System of teledynamic control.



J H. HAMMOND. m. SYSTEM OF TELEDYNAMIC CONTROL. APPLICATION FILED sums.i913. nzucwso FEB. 9. 1918.

1,295,742. 4 Patented Feb. 25, 1919.

4 SHEET S-SHEEI ATTORNEYS 1.11. HAMMOND. 1R

SYSTEM OF TELEDYNAMIC CONTROL.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT.8, I913- RENEWED FEB. 9. l9l8.

Patented Feb. 25, 1919.

.4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

INVENTOR WITH/E8858 1 H. HAMMOND. JR;

SYSTEM OF TELEDYNAMIC CONTROL.

APPLICATION FILED SEPTA 19H]. RENEWED FEB. 9. I9l8.

Patented Feb. 25, 1919.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

E a Q J. H. HAMMOND, JR. SYSTEM OF TELEDYNAMIC CONTROL. APPLICATIONFILED sens. I913. RENEWED FEB. 9. 1918,

Patented Feb. 25, 1919.

.4 SHEETS-SHEET 4'.

INVENTOR fir WM.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN HAYS HAMMOND, JR., OF GLOUCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS.

SYSTEM OF TELEDY NAMIC CONTROL.

Patented Feb. 25, 1919.

Application filed September 8, 1913, Serial No. 788,540. RenewedFebruary 9, 1918. Serial 'No. 216,403.

My invention relates to systems for con-- trolling and operatingmechanisms at a distance, and relates more particularly to systems inwhich received radiant energy causes pneumatic, hydraulic or otherfluidoperated mechanisms to perform various functions.

In the accompanying drawings,

Figure 1 shows a general diagrammatic view of one of my receivingstations which may be on a torpedo boat or other vessel, and it is to beunderstood that there is a corresponding transmitting station, either onshore or on another vessel, capable of sending out radio signals.

Figs. 2, 3 and 4; show different views of pneumatic mechanisms in one ofmy receivingstations. F ig; 2 is a top view, partly in section; Fig. v3is a side view. partly in section; and Fig. 4 is an end view.

In Fig. 1, A is an antenna, grounded at E, through the inductance coilL, the latter being inductively coupled with the inductance coil L ofthe oscillatory circuit L C,

C being a variable condenser. By means of the stopping condenser C andthe rectify-- ing detector D, unidirectional current impulses aresupplied to the relay F, which, when actuated, permits current from thebattery B to flow through electromagnet G,

which has a magnetic core 9. I is a relay cylinder with a relay valve H,in which is the valve stem h, having a magnetic pole piece h at its end,in proximity to the core 9 of the electromagnet G. Relay cylinder Icontains a piston 1, (shown in Fig. 2), which has a rod J. This rodcarries a rack j, which engages with a pinion J. This pinion is attachedto the rotary valve or commutator K, and causes it to rotate. The tank Tcontains compressed air or other fluid, and is connected by means of thepipe 1 with the commutator K. A branch pipe 2 leads from pipe 1 to therelay valveH. Pipes?) and 4 lead from the commutator K to the cylinderof the steering engine M. Pipes 5 and 6 lead fromthe commutator K to thecylinder of the clutch engine N, and

pipe 7 leads from K to the cylinder 0. The pipe 8 leads from the relaycylinder I to the rotary valve K, and at or near its junction with I, ithas an adjustable aperture or valve V, which regulates the flow 'of airor other fluid through it. The adjustable valves or cocks V, V and V areattached to the pipes 5, 6 and 7, respectively, for the purpose ofregulating the flow of air, or other fluid, through the pipes and intothe cylinders N and O.

The cylinder M has the piston rod P, which is operatively connected withthe steering gear IT. The cylinder N has the piston W which isoperatively connected with the clutch gear X, X, X which operates theclutch Y, connecting the main engine R with the shaft Z.

The cylinder has a piston (not shown) with a piston rod 0, the stop 13and electrical contact 14. A tension spring S tends to pull the. rod 0and the attached pieces 13 and 1 1 downward. An adjustable valve or cockV regulates the flow of air from the upper end of the cylinder 0, andcan cause the piston and piston rod 0 to move up as slowly as may bedesired. 4

Q and Q are discharge tubes or chambe'rs, containing the bombs orprojectiles Q, and Q and the charges of explosive g and g, respectively,and charges or fuses. Flexible or spring contacts 15 and 16 areconnected by means of conductors 17 and 18, respectively, through sparkgaps in the 9 with the grounds E and E Movable contact 1-1 ispermanently connected to one pole. of battery B, the other pole of whichis grounded at E. A pipe 9 connects the tube or chamber Q with thecylinder 10, in which is thepiston 11 and rod 12, the latter, in itsinitial position, being held back by the spring S out of the way of thestop 13. A check valve V allows the compressed 'gases from cylinder Q toenter freely into cylinder 10, but permits them to exhaust from onlyslowly. A small valve V also permits gases to leak out of cylinder 10only slowly. The left end of cylinder 10 has large openings, or isentirely open with the exception of a frame to hold the rod 12 and thespring S so that the piston 11 and rod 12 can move freely and quickly tothe left.

In Figs. 2, 3 and 4, the various parts shown have the same characters asthe correg and g are .ignitaonignition charges g andattached to whichare I energized, pole piece or armature it will be attracted and valvestem It will be moved so as to admit compressed air, or other fluid, tothe relay cylinder I. Piston I and rod J will be pushed to the right andwill cause rack j and pinion J to rotate commutator K. \Vhen commutatorK is in the position where air, or other fluid, is admitted to the pipe3, fluid will flow from tank T through pipe 1 to commutator K, throughcorresponding ports to pipe 3, and through pipe 3 to the left end ofcylinder M. \Vhen the commutator is in this position, pipe 4: allows theright end of cylinder M to exhaust through suitable ports in thecommutator. The piston and piston rod P are therefore moved to the rightand operate the steering gear U.- \Vhen commutator K is in position forpipe 4; to admit air from tank T to the right end of cylinder M, pipe 3is connected with an exhaust port of the commutator, and piston rod Pand steering gear U are moved in the reverse direction. These respectiveoperations take place without delay, assoon as the commutator hasreached the proper position.

When commutator K is rotated to the positlon where pipe 5 is incommunication with pipe 8 compressed air or other fluid can pass throughthe relay valve H into cylinder I, and thence through pipe 8 to rotaryvalve K and pipe 5. But before the fluid can leave cylinder I, piston Imust have moved far enough to the right to uncover the opening to pipe8, and as there is only a small aperture or valve V between cylinder Iand pipe 8, the fluid will enter pipe 8 and rotary valve K only slowly,and not in sufliclent volume to produce any operative eflect on thepiston in cylinder N, unless the electromagnet G is energized for aconsiderable period and the rotary valveIC held in pos1t1on tocommunicate with pipe 5 at the same time.

The fluid may also be retarded in its passage through valve V to anydegree desired, so that this affords an additional means for delaylngits action on the piston of cylinder N, and piston rod WV will not movefar enough to the right to operate clutch gear X, X, X and clutch Yunless the commutator K is kept in the aforesaid position for anappreciable len 11 of time. In like manner. if the clutch T hasconnected engiue R and shaft Z, and it. is desired to disconnect them,the commutator I\'- must be held for some time in the. position wherecylinder 1 and pipe 8 are in communication with pipe (3. before enoughair can pass through valves V and Y to move the piston in cylinder X andpiston rod \Y far enough to the left to operate clutch gear X, X, X anddisengage clutch Y. 'hen air is being admitted to one end of cylimler Nthrough pipe 5, air is being exhausted from the other end through pipe(3 and a corresponding exhaust port in connnutator K, and vice versa.The valves Y and Y may be so arranged that they will allow air to movefreely through them toward the commutator K, while it is retarded whenmoving toward cylinder X, or it may be retarded when moving in bothdirections.

The commutator ports for operating the clutch mechanism are preferablybetween the ports for operating the steering mechanism measured on thecircumference of the rotary valve, so that the position of the steeringgear and rudder can be rapidly changed by passing over theclutch-operating positions of the commutator so quickly that the clutchwill not be operated.

'hen the commutator K is in the position where cylinder I and pipe 8 arein com munication with pipe 7. compressed air is admitted to pipe 7, butis delayed in its entrance to pipe 8 and is retarded in its passagethrough aperture V and valve Y to any degree desired, so that its actionon the piston of cylinder is delayed. and piston rod 0 will not move upfar enough to fire the light bombs Q or Q unless electromagnet G isenergized and commutator K is kept in the aforesaid position for anappreciable length of time. Valve V can also be arranged to delay themovement of the piston in cylinder 0, by adjusting this valve so that itwill permit air to escape only slowly from the upper end of cylinder 0.Valve V can be adjusted so that it will also permit air to enter theupper end of cylinder 0 quickly, and valve V can be adjusted so that itwill permit air to flow freely from the lower end of cylinder 0 whencommutator K is turnedso that pipe 7 is in communication with an exhaustport.

When, by means of the transmitted radio signals, commutator K has beenrotated into the position where cylinder I and pipe 8 are incommunication with pipe 7, and has been held there long enough for thecompressed air to pass through aperture V and valve V and operate thepiston in cylinder 0, this piston and the rod 0" will move up so thatcontact 14 will connect with contact- 15. When 14 and 15 make contact, acircuit is completed from the battery B through the conductor 17 and thespark gap in the 55 the commutator K may be fired and charge 9 will beexploded, and the light bomb or projectile Q, will. be discharged. Atthe same time the pressure due to the explosion is transmitted throughthe check valve V and the pipe 9 to the cylinder 10 and forces thepiston 11 and rod 12 to the left, so that the latter moves into the wayof stop 13. This prevents contact 14 from connecting with flexiblecontact 16, and discharging the second bomb Q. The gases will thenslowly leak out of cylinder 10 through check valve V and small valve Vand piston 11 and rod 12 will be slowly forced back to the right byspring S But before rod 12 can release stop 13, the operator at thetransmitting station can cease sending signals, or can rotate commutatorK to another posit-ion, so that pipe 7 communicates with an exhaustport, and the air is exhausted from the lower end of cylinder 0 beforecontact 14 has moved up far enough to touch contact 16, and the spring Sthen draws rod 0, stop 13 and contact 14 back to their original lowerposition, as quickly as may be desired.

When it is desired to discharge a second bomb Q, signals are sent outfrom the transmitting station until the commutator K again reaches aposition where compressed air is admitted to cylinder 0. Rod 0' willthen move up with its piston, and as the St0p-.

13 is no longer held by rod 12, contact 14 will move past the flexiblecontact 15 and will touch contact 16, when the circuit from battery Bwill be completed through" conductor 18 and the spark gap in ignitioncharge g Charge 9 will therefore be fired and charge exploded and bomb Qwill be discharged.

As many bombs as is desired may be provided and discharged, it beingunderstood that the corresponding cylinders, circuits and otherauxiliary apparatus may be multiplied as often as is necessary. Thesebombs may contain some substance, such as calcium phosphid, which willgive out light on contact with water, and so can illuminate the ships ofan enemy and enable their position to be determined. Some of thefeatures of this system for discharging bombs have been already shownand described in my application for United States Letters Patent SerialNo. 745,57 6, but I do not confine myself to this particular system, butany suitable means for discharging bombs may be used with my presentinvention.

There may be another commutator port for operating the light bombs, andthese ports may be between ports for operating the steering mechanism,so that the position of the steering gear and rudder can be rapidlychanged by passing over the bomboperating positions of the commutator soquickly that the bomb will not be discharged.

As many ports or operating positions of be provided as is the ruddermoved to suitable or convenient, and between each operating posit-ion ofthe commutator there may be a neutral position. There will preferably bean evennumber of positions for operating the steering gear, and betweeneach of these positions will be one for operating clutch mechanism,light bomb or other apparatus, but I can also have any other number ofports suitable for any particular case, and may arrange them in anyconvenient order, the main point being that the steering gear can beoperated quickly, and V V V starboard or to port, without operating theother mechanisms. The rotation of the commutator is effected by means ofthe received radio signals, and so is at all times under the control ofthe operator at the transmitting station.

Wherever, in this description of my invention, the terms right, left, upand down are used, it is to be understood that they refer to thearrangement and position of the apparatus and mechanisms as. shown inthe drawings, and that they may be modified or changed according to theposition of the apparatus.

Besides the steering gear, I have here shown an engine clutch and lightbombs, but I do not confine myself to the particular kind of steeringgear, clutch and light bomb here shown, noreven to any kind of clutchesor light bombs, but may employ any other suitable or convenientapparatus and mech anlsms. l

I may employ any suitable radio receiving 1 0 apparatus, and I may useany appropriate means for propelling and steering mv torpedo or othervessel. I may also app y my invention to uses "other than for steeringvessels and operating apparatus thereon, and in general, I do notconfine myself to the particular apparatus andmechanisms here shown, butvarious changes and modifications, within the knowledge of those skilledin the art, may be made in the particular apparatusand mechanisms shownand described herein, without departing from the spirit of my invention,provided the means set forth in the following claims be employed.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A system of teledynamic control comprising a receiving apparatus forradiant energy, an electro-pneumatic valve cont-rolled by said receivingapparatus, a pneumatic commutator controlled by said valve, 9. pluralityof ports in said commutator, a plurality of mechanisms controlled bysaid ports,and means whereby non-adjacent ports, may enable theircorresponding mechanisms to operate without causing the operation of themechanisms controlled by the intermediate ports.

2. A system of distance control for mechto said mechanisms, and meanswhereby mechanisms governed by non-adjacent commutator ports may becaused to operate successively without causing the mechanisms governedby the intermediate commutator ports to operate.

3. In a system for controlling mechanisms from a distance, a supply offluid under pressure, a relay valve, a fluid-operated pis-' toncontrolled by said relay valve, a rotary valve operated by said pistonand connected with said supply of fluid, a plurality of fluid-operatedmechanisms, a plurality of ports in said rotary valve for admittingfluid to said mechanlsms, and means whereby mechanisms controlled bynon-adjacent ports may be caused to operate in rapid sequence, Withoutcausing the mechanisms governed by the intermediate ports to operate.

4:. In a system for controllingmechanims 'from a distance, a supply offluid under pressure, a relay valve, a rotary ,valve controlled by saidrelay valve, a plurality of fluid-operated mechanisms, a plurality ofports in said rotary valve arranged to connect said mechanismsselectively with said fluid supply, and retarding means for causingcertain of said mechanisms to remain inoperative for a predeterminedtime interval after they have'been connected with the fluid supply. v

5. A system of teledynamic control which comprises a receiving apparatusfor radiant energy, an electromagnet controlled by said receivingapparatus, a relay valve operated by said electromagnet, a supply offluid, a rotary valve, a plurality of fluid operated mechanisms,connecting pipes between said rotary valve and said mechanisms, andmeans for retarding the passage of fluid through certain of said pipes.

6. In a system for controlling-vessels at a distance, a radio-receivingapparatus, a

.supply of fluid under pressure, a relay valve controlled by saidreceiving apparatus, a rotary valve controlled by said relay valve,

steering mechanisms controlled by said rotary valve, other mechanismscontrolled by said rotary valve, and means for delaying the action ofsaid other mechanisms.

7. In a teledynamically controlled discharge system, means fordetachably supporting a series of dischargeable bodies upon a movablebody, means for discharging one of said dischargeable bodies from saidmova able body by radiant energy, and means controlled by the dischargeof said one of said bodies to retard the discharge of a succeeding body.

8. In a teledynamically controlled dis: charge system, means forsupporting a plurality of projectiles upon a basal body, meanscontrolled by radiant energy from a distance for discharging one of saidprojectiles, and subsequent discharg retarding means operated by suchprior discharge of said projectile.

9. A system of producing expansion of fluids at a distance inpredetermined sequence, comprising a receiving circuit for radiantenergy, a relay in said circuit, a plurality of expansive elements,means for expanding said elements controlled by said relay, and amechanism permitting a limited of each expansive element.

10; Means for effecting a plurality of results comprising an elementresponsive to radiant energy, a plurality of devices arranged to becontrolled by said element, and pneumatic means arranged to 'be actuatedas a result of the cooperation of said element With one of said devicesto retard the cooperation of said element with another of said devices.

11. The combination with a plurality of relatively stationary contacts,means adapted to receive a plurality of explosive charges correspondingto said contacts respectively, partial electric circuits connected tosaid contacts respectively for exploding said charges, a relativelymovable contact arranged to engage said relatively stationary contactssuccessively, a partial electric circuit connected to said relativelymovable contact and adapted to complete said firstmentioned partialcircuits successively, and

pneumatic means operative as a result of the explosion of one of saidcharges to delay the explosion of a second of said charges.

12. The combination with a plurality of contacts of a relatively movablecontact piece arranged to engage said first-mew tioned contactssuccessively, and pneumatic mean-s operating as a result of the engagement of said contact piece with one of said first-mentioned contacts totemporarily oppose the engagement of said contact piece With another oneof said first-mentioned contacts. I v

\ 13. The combination with a plurality of contacts of a relativelymovable contact piece arranged to engage said first-mentioned contactssuccessively, and explosive means operating as the result of theengagement of said contact piece with one of said first-mentionedcontacts to temporarily oppose the engagement of said contact piece withanother one of said first-mentioned contacts.

14. The combination with a plurality of relatively stationary contacts,means adapted to receive a plurality of explosive charges correspondingto said contacts respectively; partial electric circuits connected tosaid contacts respectively for exploding said charges; a relativelymovable contact arranged to engage said relatively stationary contactssuccessively, a partial electric circuit connected to said relativelymovable contact and adapted to complete said first- 10 mentioned partialcircuits successively, and

means operative as a result of the explosion of one of saidcharges todelay the explosion of a second of said charges.

This specification signed and witnessed this 28th day of August, A. D.1913.

JOHN HAYS HAMMOND, JR.

G. W. MOKAY.

